Soft skills are important for career success in addition to technical skills. Soft skills include teamwork, communication, etiquette, time management, and attitude. The document recommends students evaluate their own soft skills through self-reflection and seeking honest feedback from others. It encourages students to meet with career services for help improving soft skills and moving forward towards their goals.

1. ITT Technical Institute Career Services

2. Showing up and succeeding in all of my ITT Tech classes is all that I will need to do to get a job and advance. Myth

3. Wouldn’t THAT be nice? Your technical education…. You have to also evaluate and polish up your SOFT SKILLS . WHY? People-related and communication skills are how businesses and employees work together.

4. What are “soft skills”?

5. Soft Skills are the GLUE between all of your technical skills…. CAD Computer Skills Incident Reporting IT Networking 3D Modeling Marketing DC Electronics

6. Team Spirit How do you work with others? Do you value the opinions and skills of other people? Are you too focused on yourself and your role, without thinking about the bigger picture? Are you self-centered? Spoiled?

7. Sociability Do you interact with others? How do you carry on a conversation? Do you answer a question with clear, correct language? Smile, eye contact, handshake, posture…. Personality?

8. Business Etiquette Professional Dress Grooming Tattoos and piercings Interviewing Skills – you have to develop them

9. Interpersonal Skills What signals do you project? Body language Posture Listening skills Context of conversation/focus

10. Negotiation Skills Communication to make a point in a professional way Do you clearly state things professionally in a calm manner? Do you fly off the handle when people do not agree with you? How do you get along with your supervisor? Others?

11. Positive Attitude Complaint or Solution? Do you focus on negative things? Do you complain without providing an idea for a solution? Is your glass half-empty? Do you focus on the performance or mistakes of others?

12. Self-Motivation What is moving you? Do you get up on your own for work/school or is someone else still doing that for you? Do you wait to be told to do something or seek out work? What is motivating you? Family? Money? Recognition?

13. Time Management All the time in a day….. Are you scrambling to get from one thing to the next? Do you forget appointments? Assignments? Are you LATE?

14. Time Management Tools: Buy a calendar diary at the Dollar Store…. Use calendar functions on your computer or cell phone…. Find a tool and stick to it!

15. Now it’s time to GET REAL. Self-Evaluation What is motivating ME? Opinions of friends and family---ask for honesty! How well do I manage my time? How do I take feedback? How well do I listen? Focus?

16. Career Services Meet with your Career Services Team! Practical evaluation and constructive feedback Great suggestions and ideas! 419-861-6500 jstopar@itt-tech.edu or srule@itt-tech.edu Stop by the office!

17. Start NOW! Be honest with yourself. Know that you are NOT alone! Confirm your strengths. Identify your weaknesses. KEEP MOVING FORWARD for that POSITIVE FUTURE! ITT Technical Institute wants your SUCCESS!

18. General Questions Thank you!